Support and alignment structure for magnetic trip device

Abstract

A plunger assembly support structure for a molded case circuit breaker magnetic trip mechanism for aligning a trip mechanism plunger assembly. The plunger assembly support structure includes a base member assembly having a plurality of guide members, and a plunger carriage assembly slidably disposed adjacent to said base member assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A plunger assembly support structure and alignment device for a plunger assembly of a molded case circuit breaker magnetic trip mechanism, said support structure comprising: 
       a base member assembly having a plurality of guide members;  
       a plunger assembly;  
       a plunger carriage assembly disposed on said plunger assembly and slidably disposed adjacent to said base member assembly;  
       said plunger carriage assembly has a first side member and a second side member;  
       at least two said guide members are located on one side of said plunger carriage assembly and at least one said guide member is located on the opposite side of said plunger carriage assembly;  
       said guide members contact said plunger carriage assembly in at least two locations;  
       said base member assembly has a first face;  
       said guide members extent from said first face;  
       said plunger carriage assembly first side member and second side member each have an outer face;  
       said side members include at least one ridge on said first member outer face or second member outer face;  
       at least one said guide member having a groove adjacent to said at least one ridge; and  
       said at lest one ridge disposed within said at least one groove.  
     
     
       2. The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said first side member outer face and second side member outer face each have at least one ridge;  
       at least one said guide member having a groove adjacent to said at least one ridge on said first side member outer face;  
       at least one said guide member having a groove adjacent to said at least one ridge on said second side member outer face;  
       each said ridge disposed within a single said guide member groove.  
     
     
       3. The support structure of  claim 2 , wherein: 
       said base member assembly includes four guide members;  
       two said guide members located adjacent to said first side member outer face; and  
       two said guide members located adjacent to said second side member outer face.  
     
     
       4. The support structure of  claim 3 , wherein: 
       said guide members are spaced apart from each other.  
     
     
       5. The support structure of  claim 4 , wherein: 
       said base member assembly includes a means for maintaining the rotational alignment of the plunger assembly.  
     
     
       6. The support structure of  claim 5 , wherein: 
       said means for maintaining the rotational alignment of the plunger assembly includes:  
       a conical indentation on said first face;  
       said plunger assembly includes a plunger tab;  
       said plunger assembly disposed in said carriage assembly with said plunger tab disposed adjacent to said conical indentation.  
     
     
       7. The support structure of  claim 5 , wherein: 
       said conical indentation includes a plunger trough extending in the direction of travel of said plunger carriage assembly.  
     
     
       8. A plunger assembly support structure and alignment device for a plunger assembly of a molded case circuit breaker magnetic trip mechanism, said support structure comprising: 
       a base member assembly having a plurality of guide members;  
       a plunger assembly  
       a plunger carriage assembly disposed on said plunger assembly and slidably disposed adjacent to said base member assembly;  
       said base member assembly has a first face;  
       said base member assembly includes a means for maintaining the rotational alignment of the plunger assembly  
       said means for maintaining the rotational alignment of the plunger assembly includes:  
       a conical indentation on said first face;  
       said plunger assembly includes a plunger tab; and  
       said plunger assembly disposed in said carriage assembly with said plunger tab disposed adjacent to said conical indentation.  
     
     
       9. The support structure of  claim 8 , wherein: 
       said conical indentation includes a plunger trough extending in the direction of travel of said plunger carriage assembly.  
     
     
       10. A circuit breaker having a magnetic trip mechanism, said circuit breaker comprising: 
       a housing;  
       at least one pair of contacts disposed in said housing;  
       a latchable operating mechanism structured to separate said at least one pair of contacts;  
       a magnetic trip mechanism coupled to said latchable operating mechanism, having a plunger assembly support structure and a plunger assembly;  
       said plunger assembly support structure having a base member assembly having a plurality of guide members, a plunger carriage assembly sidably disposed adjacent to said base member assembly, means for aligning said carriage assembly, and said means for aligning said carriage assembly cooperating with said guide members to align said carriage relative to said base member assembly;  
       said plunger carriage assembly has a first side member and a second side member;  
       at least two said guide members are located on one side of said plunger carriage assembly and at lest one said guide member is located on the opposite side of said plunger carriage assembly;  
       said guide members contact said plunger carriage assembly in at least two locations  
       said base member assembly has a first face;  
       said guide members extend from said first face;  
       said plunger carriage assembly first side member and second side member each have an outer face;  
       said side members include at least one ridge on said first member outer face or second member outer face;  
       at least one said guide member having a groove adjacent to said at least on ridge; and  
       said at least one ridge disposed within said at least one groove.  
     
     
       11. The circuit breaker of  claim 10 , wherein: 
       said first side member outer face and second side member outer face each have at least one ridge;  
       at least one said guide member having a groove adjacent to said at least one ridge on said first side member outer face;  
       at least one said guide member having a groove adjacent to said at least one ridge on said second side member outer face;  
       each said ridge disposed within a single said guide member groove.  
     
     
       12. The circuit breaker of  claim 11 , wherein: 
       said base member assembly includes four guide members;  
       two said guide members located adjacent to said first side member outer face; and  
       two said guide members located adjacent to said second side member outer face.  
     
     
       13. The circuit breaker of  claim 12 , wherein: 
       said guide members are spaced apart from each other.  
     
     
       14. The circuit breaker of  claim 13 , wherein: 
       said base member assembly includes a means for maintaining the rotational alignment of the plunger assembly.  
     
     
       15. The circuit breaker of  claim 14 , wherein: 
       said means for maintaining the rotational alignment of the plunger assembly includes:  
       a conical indentation on said first face;  
       said plunger assembly includes a plunger tab;  
       said plunger assembly disposed in said carriage assembly with said plunger tab disposed adjacent to said conical indentation.  
     
     
       16. The circuit breaker of  claim 15 , wherein: 
       said conical indentation includes a plunger trough extending in the direction of travel of said plunger carriage assembly.  
     
     
       17. A circuit breaker having a magnetic trip mechanism, said circuit breaker comprising: 
       a housing;  
       at least one pair of contacts disposed in said housing;  
       a latchable operating mechanism structured to separate said at least one pair of contacts;  
       a magnetic trip mechanism coupled to said latchable operating mechanism, having a plunger assembly support structure and a plunger assembly;  
       said plunger assembly support structure having a base member assembly having a plurality of guide members, a plunger carriage assembly slidably disposed adjacent to said base member assembly, means for aligning said carriage assembly, and said means for aligning said carriage assembly cooperating with said guide members to align said carriage relative to said base member assembly;  
       said base member assembly has a first face;  
       said base member assembly includes a means for maintaining the rotational alignment of the plunger assembly;  
       said means for maintaining the rotational alignment of the plunger assembly includes:  
       a conical indentation on said first face;  
       said plunger assembly includes a plunger tab; and  
       said plunger assembly disposed in said carriage assembly with said plunger tab disposed adjacent to said conical indentation.  
     
     
       18. The circuit breaker of  claim 17 , wherein: 
       said conical indentation includes a plunger trough extending in the direction of travel of said plunger carriage assembly.